Musings

Welcome to my blog. Here you will find random commentary on my cooking adventures, restaurant reviews from my time on the road (mostly in Oklahoma, but not exclusively so), occasional musings on life, and whatever else I feel like writing about.
If you check the archives, you'll find some anecdotes from my time as a special education teacher, comments from camps I've worked, and glimpses of my family. Enjoy!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Can you guess what it is? Your first hint is that they are very good for you--high in Omega-3s.

You second hint is that they are low on the food chain, meaning they don't get a chance to take on a lot of contaminants.

So what are they?

SARDINES!

Do you love them/hate them?

I was in the latter group, but then have read many positive things lately about their health benefits. Then I realized I don't think I've ever actually eaten them. So tonight, I did. And they were good. Granted, I think I did a good job of masking their flavor, but I did eat them, they weren't fishy, and I liked what I ate.

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Raw asparagus with lemon juice/avocado oil/fresh black pepper, strawberries and grapes, Fage yogurt, a dried fig, and a two egg tamagoyaki. This was perfect for a night where I didn't cook, didn't have leftovers, but had odds and ends in the 'frig. The eggs take mere minutes to make. This is a very low effort, yet filling lunch.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

I have some catching up to do! I have all of these pictures on my phone, but just have been so tired that sitting at the computer to post just hasn't been on my radar.

At any rate, here is tomorrow's lunch, but presented on one of my salad plates for tonight's dinner.

I used two Eating Well recipes. The first was for oven fried chicken fried steak. I'm a CFC purist. I like it thin, crispy, and fried to a golden goodness. Fortunately (or not?), I only make it maybe 1-2x a year. I had some leftover cubed steak in the freezer that I needed to use, so decided to try this recipe. Surprisingly, it didn't disappoint. It was crispy, flavorful, and tender. I did omit the cornstarch and just upped the quantities of the wheat flour and corn meal. Instead of making the gravy called for in the recipe, I made a mushroom-sherry sauce. It was good, but I doubt I'd repeat it. I served with roasted broccoli drizzled with avocado oil and fried garlic (from a jar). I don't like broccoli, so am proud of myself for eating it. Twice.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

I made a quick visit to a local Asian grocery on Friday. There are two decent ones in the OKC. I like the other one better (Super Cao Nguyen to anyone local reading this). This one is OK, and is more on my way home from work so it'll do. I left with two bags of produce for $18 (and also a container of fried garlic from Thailand. Yum.). I hope I can eat it all before it goes bad!

Last night I made some Thai-Style Dumplingsfor the freezer. OK, linking to that recipe is a bit misleading. It's the original dumplings I made years ago, but I didn't follow it closely. I ground up some pork chops and then added carrots, baby bok choy, onion, lots of ginger and garlic, and of course soy sauce and sesame oil. I ran out of wontons, so tonight's dinner was made with the leftover meat mixture. I did spice it up more with ginger and soy sauce, because after eating a couple of dumplings last night, I thought they needed more seasoning. Yes, I have a seasoning problem. I like a lot of it.

I bought some dill at the market and the smell has been enticing me. I HAD to use it tonight, and I have a plethora of carrots, so there you have it. The recipe I linked to was my guide, but I used maple syrup in place of the agave nectar, and added a teaspoon of butter because well, I like butter. This was a good meal, balanced, and notice in the picture of my salad plate that most of the plate is veggies. That's good right? And yes, that is a salad plate. Read: Small.

On to tomorrow's lunch. It's not much different, except I have sweet potatoes instead of maple dill carrots. Guess which doesn't belong? Food pairing has never been my thing. I eat what I have and/or what I like. It's also topped with someOrganic Garden of Eden Gomasio.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Found this interesting floating around in blog land and thought I'd give it a whirl.

Instructions:Copy the list, bold the ones you've done (with explanations if needed), share with friends.1. Started your own blog2. Slept under the stars3. Played in a band4. Visited Hawaii (that's on my list of places I want to go!)5. Watched a meteor shower (the one I remember the most was while on a North Florida beach)6. Given more than you can afford to charity7. Been to Disneyland (land but not world)8. Climbed a mountain (does driving a 4 wheel drive count?)9. Held a praying mantis10. Sang a solo11. Bungee jumped12. Visited Paris13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm (I grew up in Oklahoma.)14. Taught yourself an art from scratch15. Adopted a child16. Had food poisoning17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty18. Grown your own vegetables (not to the extent I'd like)19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France20. Slept on an overnight train (badly, from Bologna to Geneva)21. Had a pillow fight22. Hitch hiked23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill24. Built a snow fort25. Held a lamb (raised them from 5th-10th grade)26. Gone skinny dipping27. Run a Marathon28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (both)31. Hit a home run32. Been on a cruise (no desire to)33. Seen Niagara Falls in person34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors35. Seen an Amish community36. Taught yourself a new language37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (does this count if I didn't realize it at the time?)38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person39. Gone rock climbing40. Seen Michelangelo’s David41. Sung karaoke (badly, while intoxicated)42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant44. Visited Africa45. Walked on a beach by moonlight46. Been transported in an ambulance47. Had your portrait painted48. Gone deep sea fishing49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (amazing!)50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (Snorkled at Dry Tortugas)52. Kissed in the rain53. Played in the mud (the mud slides we had at the creek/canyon behind the house were the best)54. Gone to a drive-in theater55. Been in a movie56. Visited the Great Wall of China57. Started a business58. Taken a martial arts class59. Visited Russia60. Served at a soup kitchen61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies62. Gone whale watching63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (I've donated blood).65. Gone sky diving66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp67. Bounced a check68. Flown in a helicopter69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (I have dolls in the attic)70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial71. Eaten caviar72. Pieced a quilt73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades75. Been fired from a job76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London77. Broken a bone (jumped out of a swing in 4th grade. Left arm. Broke my nose in softball)78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle (and even witnessed my parents' wreck. I think that was the last time. . . )79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person80. Published a book81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car (1997 Nissan Sentra) 83. Walked in Jerusalem84. Had your picture in the newspaper (sports days)85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve86. Visited the White House (I didn't go in)87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating88. had chickenpox89. Saved someone’s life90. Sat on a jury (I've been called once and they filled the jury before they made it to me)91. Met someone famous92. Joined a book club93. Got a tattoo (2009 on the top of my foot--love it. It's a sunshine. I love sun rises and sunsets. It reminds me of Dakota.)94. Had a baby95. Seen the Alamo in person (drive by)96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake97. Been involved in a law suit98. Owned a cell phone99. Been stung by a bee

Monday, February 22, 2010

I mentioned before that I am DONE with diet sodas. I am really wanting to get, and keep, aspartame out of my diet. I had my last beloved Diet DP a week ago today. During this last week, I have gone to the gym six times, done two strength training workouts at home, drank four cups of coffee, and have felt all together GREAT. It's amazing. I don't know if it's the lack of aspartame, a different mind-set, drinking tons of water, vitamins, or a combo, but something is working because I feel great. I'm even getting up in the wee morning hours to go to the gym.

Today's schedule went something like this:

5:15 up and at 'em for the 30 minute commute to the Y near my work

6:00 Elliptical (33 minutes)

6:40 Treadmill (30 minutes-ran/walked two miles and my old achy knees felt great)

Shower/clean up at the Y

8:15 Arrived at hotel where off-site meetings were. Yes, today was a bonus as I didn't have to be at my desk at the normal 7:30 a.m.

5:00 Elliptical (33 minutes)

6:00 Volunteer in-service

8:00 home

9:00 Upper body workout (30 minutes with weights/band on the Wii)

I feel great! It's amazing. If I could manage that sort of workout five days/week, would I get skinny? I don't know, but if I feel as good as I do now, it'll be worth it!

Now--10:30 and bedtime! I have more meetings tomorrow and they provide lunch, so no food to share. I will have a new bento up in a couple of days though. :)

Monday, February 08, 2010

I saw these at my local health food store, and just had to try it. YUM! I got the mint variety. It was a bit of a splurge, ($3.79 for a 4-pack), but since I am about to go OFF the diet soda, I'm entitled. The mint soda I am drinking now is not sweet, is bubbly, and has just a hint of mint. It would also be good with rum. :) The big draw to this is that I know what everything on the product list is-all natural ingredients!

As for the details, these are made by the R.W. Knudsen family. I'll look forward to trying out more of their products.